title: Effects of kisspeptin on parameters of the HPA axis.
abstract: The hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) and hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axes have an intricate cross talk that results in the inhibition of reproductive functions during periods of chronic physiological or psychological stress. Recent studies have shown that kisspeptin neurons have projections to many non-reproductive areas of the brain including the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus, thereby providing evidence of an anatomical framework for kisspeptin to regulate the HPA axis. In this study, we tested as to whether kisspeptin modulates the HPA axis at three potential levels of regulation: (1) transcription of stress-related genes CRH, AVP, and oxytocin (OXY); (2) release of neuropeptides from PVN-derived neuronal cells via mobilization of intracellular calcium stores; and (3) in vivo regulation of the HPA axis under basal and stress-induced conditions in adult male rats. Overall, our data showed that kisspeptin did not alter basal, or stress-induced HPA axis activity (plasma corticosterone (CORT) and adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH)) in adult male rats and had modest, yet significant effects on CRH, AVP, and OXY gene expressions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell and Molecular Physiology, Loyola University Chicago, Stritch School of Medicine, 2160 S First Ave, Maywood, IL 60153, USA.
authors.forename: Yathindar S
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: Natasha N
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: Mott
authors.forename: Toni R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Pak
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001127:Arginine Vasopressin / Q000235:genetics; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000235:genetics; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D059648:Kisspeptins; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000378:metabolism; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000235:genetics; D010286:Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D011506:Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000187:drug effects; D013315:Stress, Psychological
chemical_list: C491406:Kiss1 protein, rat; D059648:Kisspeptins; D009479:Neuropeptides; D011506:Proteins; D001127:Arginine Vasopressin; D010121:Oxytocin; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; D003345:Corticosterone